The Amanda Project
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Bookworms flex creative writing muscle at interactive site.
Why We Rated This
for Ages 13 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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User-created content:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
How safe is it?
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Personal privacy:
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Online interaction:
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Parental controls:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Amanda Project was written by Carla Thornton
Parents need to know that this collaborative writing site invites girls 13 and older to help tell the fictional story of Amanda Valentino, a strange teen who mysteriously disappears from the halls of Endeavor High School after only a few months of attendance. Developed by the same creative minds behind The 39 Clues, The Amanda Project is a little dark and a little disjointed. It's also clearly a marketing tool for an upcoming "Amanda" book series being planned by Harper Collins (the first book is due out in September). But the writing is clever and the site is a safe and friendly place for kids to practice their mystery writing skills -- and possibly see their contributions used in a real book.
Families Can Talk About
- Discuss the purpose of The Amanda Project. Can kids participate without wanting to buy the related book or something else from the online store?
- What makes a good mystery? Make a list of kids' mystery books by female authors that girls can check out from the library.

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